President Trump on Tuesday granted a traditional pre-Thanksgiving “pardon” to a turkey named Corn and in the process took a veiled swipe at his former defense secretary, telling attendees of the Rose Garden event that the nation must keep his “America First” focus.
“We send our love to every member of the armed forces and the law enforcement heroes risking their lives to keep America safe, to keep America great. And as I say, ‘America first,’ shouldn’t go away from that — America first!” Trump said.
The remark was an apparent retort to former Defense Secretary James Mattis, who wrote in a Monday op-ed that he hoped President-elect Joe Biden would “quickly revise the national security strategy to eliminate ‘America first’ from its contents.”
The president trashed Mattis hours earlier, tweeting, “That says it all about Mattis. Obama fired him. I should have fired him sooner. Did best work after he was gone. World’s most overrated general!”
Trump uses the term “America First” to describe his aversion to wars and troop deployments that he says aren’t in US interests, along with his opposition to what he deems unfair trade.
Trump largely steered away from joke-telling at the traditional turkey pardon and instead recounted US history and celebrated the anticipated distribution of vaccines to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During this Thanksgiving we extend our eternal gratitude to the doctors, nurses, health care workers and scientists who have waged the battle against the China virus, and we give thanks for the vaccines and therapies that will soon end the pandemic,” Trump said, as the Food and Drug Administration prepares for a Dec. 10 meeting to review a vaccine candidate from Pfizer.
“It’s just such a tremendous feeling to know that they’re coming in, they’re coming probably starting next week, or shortly thereafter,” he added.
Trump, who recently formed a commission to promote “patriotic” education, shared with the smaller than usual socially distanced crowd history of the holiday.
“This year our nation commemorates the 400th anniversary of the pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock. After arriving in the new world the brave men and women of the Mayflower endured a bitter and dangerous winter — very, very dangerous — many were sick, most were starving, and all were praying for a miracle. Thankfully God heard their prayers,” Trump said.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images“From our earliest days, America has always been a story of perseverance and triumph, determination and strength, loyalty and faith. This week in a time that is very unusual but in so many ways, very, very good, what we’ve endured and been able to endure with the vaccines now coming out one after another. It’s an incredible thing that happened. The greatest medical achievements that this planet has ever seen.”
He added: “It’s time to remember that we live in a great, great country, the greatest of them all. And there’s nothing even close as far as I’m concerned. Every American can be united in thanksgiving to God for the incredible gifts he has bestowed upon us.”
Before the event, three of Trump’s grandchildren joined first daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner in greeting the turkeys.
The president reached out to touch the large white-feathered bird Corn after “pardoning” it at the annual meat-industry-organized event. A fellow turkey named Cob also will be spared from dinner tables.
Trump on Monday authorized the beginning of a formal transition to Biden’s administration.
Insiders close to the White House tell The Post that Trump may also pardon human beings, aside from turkeys, this year to mark the holiday season.
